More than a month after making headlines for questionably “coming out” during a Q&A interview, Joshua Bassett is sharing more of his story and preferences with fans.
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In the viral video, the 20-year-old actor and singer responded to a question regarding Harry Styles saying, “Who doesn’t think Harry Styles is cool? Also, he’s hot, you know? This is also my coming out video I guess.”
When asked to clarify whether or not the video was an actual announcement that Bassett identified as queer, Bassett explained his anti-coming out beliefs and shared he just wants to be who he is, without labeling.
"I am anti-coming out in the sense that there’s no need to," Bassett told GQ. "There are plenty of letters in the alphabet... Why bother rushing to a conclusion? Sometimes your letter changes, sometimes you try a different one, other times you realize you’re not what you thought you were, or maybe you always knew," he said. "All of these can be true. I’m happy to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community because they embrace all."
He went on to explain how experiences from his younger years, growing up with five sisters and having feminine tendencies himself, had an impact on his current views surrounding the act of coming out.
"I always had a pretty feminine sort of energy in my life,” he said. “My sisters would put me in a Snow White dress and have me run around my house,” he recalled while remembering hearing comments like, “When’s he gonna find out he’s gay?”
While the world continues to speculate and label, Bassett hopes to be an encouragement to kids like him, and remind everyone there’s no need to “have it all figured out.”
"I just hope that this generation can feel comfortable, confident, and safe talking about sexuality without needing to be a box and without needing to have it all figured out," he expressed. "It makes me emotional. I didn't necessarily have that when I was younger. I didn't have a me saying stuff like this.” Concluding with, “I’m very at peace. I'm celebrating Pride all month long."
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